Of the Rye's available here in Michigan and considering I don't want to pay over $30 a bottle which of the these would you recommend and why? Do either of these have higher Rye content than the others?

JIM BEAM RYE
SAZERAC RYE-6 YR
WILD TURKEY RYE

Thanks

Doug

OscarV

06-28-2010, 13:35

I put them in this order,
1. Wild Turkey
3. Baby Saz
100. Beam

Josh

06-28-2010, 13:50

I put them in this order,
1. Wild Turkey
3. Baby Saz
100. Beam

Agreed. Next year the GT Rye should be in stores. Based on the bottle I have I would put that at #4.

DeanSheen

06-28-2010, 14:55

Baby Saz

I need to try the WT again, but I know I don't care for the Beam.

whskylvr

06-28-2010, 16:27

Not a big rye drinker at the moment just learning and tasting as many as I can.

I've given the WT rye a bunch of chances, and all I get out of it is the feeling that I got punched in the throat.

(#1 for me is Rittenhouse BiB, but that wasn't on your list.)

I put them in this order,
1. Wild Turkey
3. Baby Saz
100. Beam

Josh

06-28-2010, 17:56

I've given the WT rye a bunch of chances, and all I get out of it is the feeling that I got punched in the throat.

Some people enjoy that sort of thing.:bigeyes:

(#1 for me is Rittenhouse BiB, but that wasn't on your list.)

Ritt BiB is not available in Michigan. For some reason the 21 & 23 y/o Ritts are. Go figure. The joys of control states.:grin:

dmarkle

06-28-2010, 20:50

If you can get your hands on some Abraham Bowman Rye (maybe you can only get this in the Commonwealth of Virginia?) you will be a happy person.

It's in the high $60's which makes it a bit rich for me, but IMO it's pretty sophisticated and its age shows.

p_elliott

06-29-2010, 06:47

I put them in this order,
1. Wild Turkey
3. Baby Saz
100. Beam

I agree with the order and drinking listerine is on the list before any Beam rye.

harshest

06-29-2010, 07:06

Thanks for the help guys!

For those of you that ranked WT #1 and Saz #3, what is #2?

Rutter

06-29-2010, 07:26

Thanks for the help guys!

For those of you that ranked WT #1 and Saz #3, what is #2?

I would guess Rittenhouse BiB its next on my list to try!

OscarV

06-29-2010, 15:25

For those of you that ranked WT #1 and Saz #3, what is #2?

The no #2 was just for comparisions sake, I just listed those 3 as they relate to each other for me.
My #1 favorite rye is Thomas H Handy.

angler82

06-29-2010, 19:00

Wild Turkey rye - great buy
High West Rendezvous - recent favorite, just made its way to MA
Thomas Handy - favorite

fricky

06-30-2010, 05:09

I enjoy reading responses to "Which is the best rye or bourbon?". The one thing that we learn is that the best is the one we like. It is always a matter of personal preference. The one that is listed best by one person may be listed last by another. The only option is to try all of them and draw your own conclusion.

PaulO

06-30-2010, 05:45

I think Sazerac and WT Rye are both very good. They are quite different from each other. If you get the chance Rittenhouse BIB is also one to get. Overholt I rank below the above three. It is an 80 proofer that costs $12. I call it upper bottom shelf. I don't care for the JB Rye at all. Although it is a bourbon, Old Grandad 114 has a good amount of rye taste to it, and I think they sell it in MI.

harshest

06-30-2010, 05:52

Well I took the consensus recommendation and bought the WT. I have never had rye before and really liked it. A lot of spice and a little of the "punch in the throat" previously mentioned. I think this will become a main stay in my collection. Now time to get something else and compare.

The one that is listed best by one person may be listed last by another. The only option is to try all of them and draw your own conclusion.

I hear you there and I am working on it (althought my wife looks at me like this :skep: and this :bigeyes: and this :smiley_acbt: when I get home with new bottle.) JBW is a great example, you can find tons of posts on how nobody likes it, but for me, I really enjoy it.

I have never had rye before and thought asking what everyone else likes was a good place to start. I think next I will give JB Rye a try, although it got poor reviews from the people who commented on this thread, it fits in my budget. Who knows I might like it.

callmeox

06-30-2010, 06:16

Nobody in this thread was attempting to declare anything as the best and all of the responses were framed as opinion.

One of the questions that I love to see in response to a query like the OP posted is "what else do you like?" as smart SBers look for similar options based on the response. Since the OP was a rye virgin, there was no sense in going down that path.

We are (mostly) all mature adults here and nobody is going to venture off in pursuit of the mythical "best" of anything. We understand that it is just a matter of preference.

I enjoy reading responses to "Which is the best rye or bourbon?". The one thing that we learn is that the best is the one we like. It is always a matter of personal preference. The one that is listed best by one person may be listed last by another. The only option is to try all of them and draw your own conclusion.

fricky

06-30-2010, 06:45

The point that I was trying to make is that we all must decide for ourselves, since as you noted, all responses are personal preference. What conclusions can a newbie draw from responses that show that the top recommendation from one person may be the bottom recommendation from another?

silverfish

06-30-2010, 08:20

What conclusions can a newbie draw from responses that show that the top recommendation from one person may be the bottom recommendation from another?

Maybe if person A with the top rec. says "I also enjoy Maker's & Knob
Creek" and person B with the bottom rec says "I enjoy JD and Red Stag",
the person who inquired may be able to determine which rye may be
best for him based on the other likes listed by the replies?

I realize this isn't a scientific study but including something else you like
in your reply might help steer him toward something he'd be more likely
to enjoy.

Rughi

06-30-2010, 10:07

Wild Turkey, Rittenhouse and Beam ryes are probably closer to the taste of familiar bourbons than the Sazerac Jr (it's not really labeled "Jr." that's just a nickname on the fora). I find Sazerac to have a body, spice and finish more like many of the less easy to find ryes.

I'm not sure what you'll like best, but Saz Jr. is a good example of another rye style, of the options easily available to you. I would rank Templeton and High West in that other camp as well, if you were to look further afield and be ready to overspend a bit.

Roger

foxflyer5

07-27-2010, 14:01

i dont like the Baby Saz at all. its too sweet for my tastes, has a bit of a cherry elixir flavor that i dont care for.

has anyone had the Old Overholt Rye? i saw that in the store yesterday, and figured id go back to get it once i finally choke down this Saz.

Josh

07-27-2010, 15:07

i dont like the Baby Saz at all. its too sweet for my tastes, has a bit of a cherry elixir flavor that i dont care for.

has anyone had the Old Overholt Rye? i saw that in the store yesterday, and figured id go back to get it once i finally choke down this Saz.

If you like Jim Beam rye, you'll like Old Overcoat, err, Overholt. It's basically the same thing, assuming it's a current bottle.

foxflyer5

07-28-2010, 06:19

thanks. i like the WT Rye, but the JB Rye is fine enough. ill give the Old Overholt a try next time.

thanis

08-04-2010, 20:08

Well I took the consensus recommendation and bought the WT. I have never had rye before and really liked it...

You should give the JB rye a try. IMHO, not as good as the others, but if you like Rye, it is good enough to at least give a try (I don't mind it).

harshest

08-05-2010, 05:36

You should give the JB rye a try. IMHO, not as good as the others, but if you like Rye, it is good enough to at least give a try (I don't mind it).

I do plan on giving it a try one of these days, as well as everything else on the shelf at the local liquor store.

thanis

08-05-2010, 12:55

I do plan on giving it a try one of these days, as well as everything else on the shelf at the local liquor store.

Same here. I'm hitting every whiskey (bourbon, scotch, etc). from the bottom up. The wallet is limited. I've slowed down the pace now that I found ryes. For now I keep a rye, a scotch, a bourbon, something to mix with, and something new. Going to take many years, hopefully I have time.

I'm saving the empty bottles as I go, not sure what I'll do with the empties yet.

HipFlask

08-06-2010, 08:10

I would start with WT Rye and Rittenhouse BIB. JB Rye and Overholt are OK but when you consider they are only 80 proof and the $ are roughly right similar. Also the JB product has a unique mustiness. Baby Saz is also a very worthy pour. All should be had for $25 or under.

If you can find it and are ok Laying out 60 bones for it Thomas Handy is very very good.

Joshua

08-06-2010, 08:32

Same here. I'm hitting every whiskey (bourbon, scotch, etc). from the bottom up. The wallet is limited. I've slowed down the pace now that I found ryes. For now I keep a rye, a scotch, a bourbon, something to mix with, and something new. Going to take many years, hopefully I have time..

I did this for a while, just had one bottle open with a couple more waiting when that one died. I found that having multiple bottles open at the same time really helps you understand the whiskey. I went a bit crazy and now have too many open, but 3-4 open bottles to bound around with at times can be pretty helpful!

Josh

08-08-2010, 16:55

I'm going to be a negative bastard here and hate on the Handy. I really don't think it's worth the money. Yes, it's good, but even factoring in the barrel proof, it's overpriced compared to the Saz jr. Take that money and buy the VWFRR and still have enough left over for a bottle of Ritt BiB.

callmeox

08-08-2010, 17:15

I'm going to be a negative bastard here and hate on the Handy. I really don't think it's worth the money. Yes, it's good, but even factoring in the barrel proof, it's overpriced compared to the Saz jr. Take that money and buy the VWFRR and still have enough left over for a bottle of Ritt BiB.

I'm really glad to read that. I'm not fan of Handy either and though we're in the minority, I'm happy to not be alone.

smokinjoe

08-08-2010, 17:21

I luv the Handy. You two are stoopid...;)

Josh

08-08-2010, 17:24

touche.:lol::lol: :lol: :lol:

callmeox

08-08-2010, 17:27

I luv the Handy. You two are stoopid...;)

Says the guy who can't pull up his big boy pants and compete in the BTOTY. ;)

(The proper response should have been: Good, more for me. :grin: )

MJL

09-06-2010, 13:36

Interesting conversation. It reminds me of when people ask me which is a better handgun: Glocl or Springfield XD. To be honest they are both good and it boils down to what is good for you.

I would add one more dimension that perhaps has not been added and that is availability. Wild Turkey is found on shelves all over the USA. Wild Turkey has got to be the most easiest to obtain Rye whiskey in the USA in general terms. I do see Jim Beam Rye in the yellow bottle quite a bit and Old Overholt too but not as widely distributed as Wild Turkey. In MY area (Southern Florida) that is about the most you will find in the average booze shop. You REALLY have to beat the bushes to find Sazerac ( I think I know what I could find a bottle in a boozer about 60 miles away) but it jis ust plain not on the shelves here in Homestead. I suggest this dimension should be considered as , for the most part, when suggesting Rye many will NOT have actually tasted the many small bottlings and harder to find brands.

Doggerlander

10-15-2010, 14:57

Availability is a problem. I've tasted Rittenhouse BIB and really like it, but I can't find it anywhere. I think they've all been snapped up since the change from NAS to 3 year, but I can't even find the 3 year.

nblair

10-15-2010, 20:18

Availability is a problem. I've tasted Rittenhouse BIB and really like it, but I can't find it anywhere. I think they've all been snapped up since the change from NAS to 3 year, but I can't even find the 3 year.

Since when did Ritt BIB go to a 3 year age statement!?!

callmeox

10-15-2010, 20:39

Since when did Ritt BIB go to a 3 year age statement!?!

Dunno...the bottles that I snagged in WVa in Sept were the standard NAS BiB.

sku

10-15-2010, 21:05

There is no such thing as 3yo BIB. BIB requires ageing for at least 4 years.

ErichPryde

10-16-2010, 02:40

If I were to rank my favorite, easy to find Ryes, I'd put Ritt BIB at the top.

Although I find myself agreeing with Scott (ox), Josh (josh), and smokinjoe about whiskey preferences as often as not, I find myself strongly disagreeing with them on the Handy vs Saz NAS front. Saz NAS is one of the worst tasting whiskeys I have ever endured, and I would rather be punched in the throat than drink it neat. It is amazing that something as delicious as Handy can come from the same mashbill.

Which is why taste is so amazingly subjective. I'll buy Handy over Stagg, seriously. With that comment, 90% of the site just added me to their "do not talk to that guy" list. ;)
That goes totally against the grain- yet I can agree with Josh about how incredible FRM09 is, and with Scott about the Ritt BIB, and with Joe about how easy, and enjoyable, and buttery OCPRSS can be to drink.

So to all of you newbies- Read as much as you want, and read as many ratings as you want, and don't be surprised if someone else's 99 is your 67. Or whatever. To quote some guy I know, "It's all good." Perhaps he's right.

ErichPryde

10-16-2010, 02:49

Interesting conversation. It reminds me of when people ask me which is a better handgun: Glocl or Springfield XD. To be honest they are both good and it boils down to what is good for you.

MJL, I would like to meet you and discuss pipes, whiskey, and firearms someday. I think the resulting conversation would be interesting. I'm a rarity- I am going to pick up a Glock 19 this spring, but I would own a 1911 in a heartbeat. I like both guns, for different reasons.

...JBW is a great example, you can find tons of posts on how nobody likes it, but for me, I really enjoy it.

I have never had rye before and thought asking what everyone else likes was a good place to start. I think next I will give JB Rye a try, although it got poor reviews from the people who commented on this thread, it fits in my budget. Who knows I might like it.

You may end up liking the Beam Rye. in my younger motor-crazed building days, a friend and I would imbibe lots of either JBW or JBR mixed with Barq's Root beer. I have a soft spot for beam rye, and if I had to build another motor tomorrow, I'd go buy a bottle.

....Take that money and buy the VWFRR and still have enough left over for a bottle of Ritt BiB.

EDIT: I was going to say something about how I thought VWFRR was over-rated, but then I went and poured myself some to verify. Dammit man! I love good ryes, and I'd buy another bottle of VWFRR. It was picked for a different profile than the typical rye-spice- the fruit is absolutely delicious here.

that being said, I'm the odd one out and would still take handy. ;) If VWFRR was bottled at 107 though, It might have been a different story.

If you like Jim Beam rye, you'll like Old Overcoat, err, Overholt. It's basically the same thing, assuming it's a current bottle.

Hmm. that's like saying that the current Beam produced Old crow and JBW are the same thing. ouch.

nblair

10-16-2010, 14:03

There is no such thing as 3yo BIB. BIB requires ageing for at least 4 years.

Ah, well put. I was thinking if it was under 4 years it had to have an age statement, but I believe you're correct.

Shell

12-16-2010, 15:32

Of the Rye's available here in Michigan and considering I don't want to pay over $30 a bottle which of the these would you recommend and why? Do either of these have higher Rye content than the others?

JIM BEAM RYE
SAZERAC RYE-6 YR
WILD TURKEY RYE

Thanks

Doug

I recommend the Sazerac Rye 6 year. A problem is that liquor variety is pretty limited in MI (especially with ryes) and pretty pricey (due to the state liquor taxes, I believe).

If you have the opportunity, visit Chicago and take advantage of their better variety and prices. (And, if you are ever in MD or Washington, DC, I would make a point of bringing bottles back. Much, much better prices and variety than in MI.)

Shell

12-20-2010, 14:55

I recommend the Sazerac Rye 6 year. A problem is that liquor variety is pretty limited in MI (especially with ryes) and pretty pricey (due to the state liquor taxes, I believe).

If you have the opportunity, visit Chicago and take advantage of their better variety and prices. (And, if you are ever in MD or Washington, DC, I would make a point of bringing bottles back. Much, much better prices and variety than in MI.)

I need to correct my post. The Sazerac Rye 6 year here in MI is $26.99 (the State minimum price) This is a pretty good price, and comparable to the price in Chicago, CA, and NY.